Updated February 26, 2008


my book work

AS AUTHOR/EDITOR

Walt Disney Treasures—Uncle Scrooge: A Little Something Special (Gemstone Publishing, 2008) collects Disney comics from 1947-2006 with two accompanying in-depth essays. Available from amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and directly from the publisher, this is the second official comics tie-in to Walt Disney Home Video's ongoing Walt Disney Treasures DVD series.

Walt Disney Treasures—Disney Comics: 75 Years of Innovation (Gemstone Publishing, 2006) collects Disney comics from 1930-2004 with two accompanying in-depth essays. This earlier Treasures trade paperback is also available from amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or directly from the publisher.

Mickey and the Gang: Classic Stories in Verse (Gemstone Publishing, 2005) collects Good Housekeeping Disney cartoon adaptations from 1934-1944 with accompanying animation production art and my extensive commentary. This oversized coffee table book is available from amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or directly from the publisher in both paperback and limited edition hardback editions.

Donald Duck: 70 Years (Egmont Serieforlaget A/S, 2004) collects Disney comics from 1937-1994 with my decade-by-decade commentary. Versions of the book were published in Denmark, Norway and Sweden (pictured at left).

The Walt Disney Centennial Book (Egmont Serieforlaget A/S, 2001) collects Disney comics from 1930-present with my decade-by-decade commentary. My favorite edition is the Swedish one (pictured at right), incorporating an extra helping of annotations. Norwegian, Danish, and Bulgarian editions also exist.

70 Years With Mickey Mouse (Egmont Serieforlaget A/S, 1998) collects Disney comics from 1940-1998 with an original wraparound story by myself and artist Cesar Ferioli. Versions of the book were published in Denmark, Germany (pictured at left), Japan, Norway, and Sweden.

Nine Lives To Live: A Classic Felix Celebration (Fantagraphics, 1996) collects Otto Messmer Felix the Cat comics from 1923-1932 with my extensive commentary and appendices. The book is available from amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or directly from the publisher.

back to top

AS CONTRIBUTING AUTHOR/EDITOR

Animation Art: From Pencil To Pixel (Harper Design International, 2004) was edited by renowned cartoon researcher Jerry Beck. As one of Mr. Beck's contributing authors, I researched and wrote seventeen pages of text copy, including analyses of Mickey Mouse, Felix the Cat, Woody Woodpecker, and the studios that created them.

Looney Tunes: The Ultimate Visual Guide (Dorling Kindersley, 2003) was written by Jerry Beck with several research associates, myself included. I wrote over twenty pages of text copy, including analyses of Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, the Tasmanian Devil, and the Three Bears.

Black Images in the Comics (Fantagraphics, 2003) is by Swedish comics scholar Fredrik Strömberg. I was one of the book's two copyeditors, working on pages 22-109 (note: not pages 1-97, as incorrectly stated in the book's indicia). I myself authored individual pages discussing Warner Bros' Bosko, Walter Lantz's Li'l Eight Ball, MGM's Mammy Two-Shoes, and Disney's The Head.

back to top


my comics and magazine work

AS EDITOR

Walt Disney's Comics and Stories (Gemstone Publishing), Anders And & Co. (Egmont Serieforlaget A/S), and other American and international Disney comics regularly contain stories I edited for Denmark's Egmont Creative A/S. Since 1997 I've been working behind the scenes on these adventures of Mickey Mouse, Donald and Fethry Duck, Uncle Scrooge, Goofy, and other Mouseton and Duckburg residents.

Walt Disney's Christmas Jubilee Present (Egmont Serieforlaget Norway) is a series of seven classic reprint compilations. The oblong stocking-stuffer magazines feature vintage Disney tales restored from archival sources—many published for the first time since the 1940s—together with my own introductory editorial pieces.

back to top

AS WRITER

Uncle Scrooge (Gemstone Publishing) and other American and international Disney comics include stories I've been writing and/or rescripting for Gemstone and for my former employer, Egmont Creative A/S. The stories star such characters as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Brer Rabbit, and the Big Bad Wolf.

Comic Book Marketplace (Gemstone Publishing) has published several examples of my historical research. Most recently appearing is "Disney Comics: Back to Long Ago!", a feature article in CBM #103. The twenty-two page article analyses the development of Disney comics stories in multiple continents over a seventy-year span.

back to top


my webpages

AT THE VIRTUAL INKWELL

Big Bad Wolf History and reference text on Disney's Big Bad Wolf and Three Little Pigs. Written in 2002 for use in publicity by European Disney comics publishers (see below for a German version).

Biryani recipes Just as it sounds, several recipes for my favorite Indian dish. Last updated in 1993.

The Cartoon Pop Music Page Learn the secret history behind the musical scores of early sound animated cartoons—by way of rare sheet music scans, RealVideo cartoon clips, and RealAudio samples from turn-of-the-century music hall comedians.

Charlie Chaplin: A World Wide Web Celebration A selection of lavishly illustrated essays on Chaplin's tramp character, private life, and political involvement. Last updated in 1996.

Fethry Duck A writers' guide to Donald's beatnik cousin. Written (with Lars Jensen) in 1999 and 2000 for internal use at Egmont Creative A/S.

Of Rocks and Socks: The Winkler Oswalds Walt Disney stopped making Oswald Rabbit cartoons in summer 1928. Walter Lantz picked up the torch in summer 1929. Who made the year of Oswald cartoons in between? Let Pietro Shakarian and myself enlighten you!

Van Beuren's Tom and Jerry Long before the cat and mouse, these two human ne'er-do-wells wreaked havoc in a series of classic cartoons. Co-managed by Pietro Shakarian.

back to top

ELSEWHERE ONLINE

The Classic Felix the Cat Page Take a look at classic comics by Otto Messmer, Felix's creator; browse the most complete Felix filmography to date, and enjoy classic Felix theme songs and music hall shanties. Co-managed by Pietro Shakarian.

German Disney character biographies Presented by European comics publisher Egmont Ehapa Verlag GmbH. Currently available are April, May and June (Dicky, Dacky und Ducky), Big Bad Wolf (Ede Wolf), Gladstone Gander (Gustav Gans), Gus Goose (Franz Gans), Jose Carioca, and Sylvester Shyster (Balduin Beutelschneider). German translation from my original texts by Ehapa's editors.

Floyd Gottfredson Discussion of the master Mickey Mouse cartoonist's life, art styles, and artistic development over a forty-year period. Part of Per Starback's Disney comics pages.

back to top


my links

ANIMATION/CARTOONS

Animation ID Thad Komorowski unleashes great behind-the-scenes analysis of vintage animators' styles together with his trademark caustic commentary.

Animation Nation and the Animation Nation Bulletin Board constitute Charles Zembillas' ongoing web effort to organize intelligent animators toward more cost-effective and bureaucracy-free cartoon production.

Classic Cartoons Researcher Andrea Ippoliti and his colleagues present still-frame examinations of animation's rarer and more outrageous moments, often restored to nearly alarming Technicolor glory.

Cartoon Brew and Cartoon Research Historian Jerry Beck's great web resources showcase commentary on animation past and present.

The Columbia Crow's Nest Pietro Shakarian's tribute to Columbia's (and UPA's) classic characters. Meet refined, cultured, easily-suckered Fauntleroy Fox, eternal wise guy Crawford S. Crow, and a cast of dozens.

The Disney Animated Shorts Encyclopedia and Disney Animation Forum Mice, ducks, goofs, and bad wolves get their due at this intricate site and associated message board.

Don Markstein's Toonopedia Mickey Mouse and Bucky Bug comics writer Don Markstein offers short, well-read biographies of more cartoon characters than you ever knew existed.

DuckFilm and DuckFilm Forum German index of Disney animated shorts and associated message board.

goldenagecartoons.com is not only a home to my Felix the Cat pages; it's also your one-stop source for many other legendary cartoon studio research points.

homestarrunner.com Rustic and filled with old-world cardboard charm, the Pizz serves up Strong Badian-style pizza at a price that won't leave a dent in your wallet!

Inkwell Images Ink provides Ray Pointer's uniquely high quality collections of Alice Comedies, Mutt and Jeff, Koko the Clown, Krazy Kat, and other classic silent cartoons on DVD.

Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies and The Termite Terrace Trading Post What's up, doc? Here's the central web resource and message board for fans of Bugs, Porky, Sylvester and the gang.

michaelbarrier.com offers insightful, and wonderfully opinionated, commentary from one of animation's most well-read pundits.

MousePlanet began as a Disney theme park information site, but now contains reviews of various Disney animated films and DVDS.

Scrappyland Harry McCracken chronicles "The Screen's Lovable Mischief Kid" and his long-suffering playmates, Oopy and Yippy. Oh, and Margy is the man. (Don't ask.)

shaneglines.net, The Drawing Board, and Cartoon Retro Spumco artist Shane Glines presents his good girl art and a rotating selection of classic cartoon and comic inspiration.

Song of the South.net History hasn't been kind to the live-action framing sequences of Disney's 1946 Song of the South, but the animated Brer Fox, Brer Bear, and Brer Rabbit remain some of cartoons' greatest characters.

Tom's Vintage Film Enjoy Police Dog, Farmer Al Falfa, Grouch Chaser and more in Tom Stathes' homebrewed silent cartoon DVD titles.

Too Looney! Matthew Hunter and Jon Cooke enjoy some of Looney Tunes' loonier moments and most obscure supporting players. Don't mix Matthew's video mashups.

The Walter Lantz Cartune Encyclopedia Internet home for fans of the pre-Pixar Woody, Andy, and Buzz. Ha-ha-ha-HA-ha!

back to top

COMICS

Andeby Online (Duckburg Online) "Your source for ducks on the Internet" features discussion and reviews of the Norwegian Disney comics.

Comicforum's Disney-Comics Forum is the place for German discussion of Disney comics. Fans here idolize the Mickey Mouse comics of the 1980s—the type where Mickey is a genius detective. You have been warned.

DisneyBasen is Peter Friis Jeppesen's singlehanded attempt to review all Danish Disney comics and digests.

Comicforum's Fix und Foxi Forum discusses Rolf Kauka's teenage kid foxes and their irrepressible wolf pal Lupo.

Dansk Donaldist-Forening (RAP) is where you'll find Danish discussion of the present European Disney comics.

The Dubworks Jonathan Gray, comics Renaissance man (Sonic the Hedgehog, Mickey Mouse) and longtime personal friend, presents his solo creations: "Chip and Walter," "Time Trouble" and more.

freecomics.dk is a widely available Danish giveaway comic supported entirely by local advertising. Only in Denmark... and would you believe it got its start in my boarding house?

I. N. D. U. C. K. S. The world's most complete index to international Disney comics is this ongoing project to which I contribute. COA features the best browsing system for searching the database files.

LTB Online features reviews of the Lustiges Taschenbuch, Germany's 256-page monthly Disney comics digest.

Oddball Comics and the Oddball Comics Message Board finds Hanna-Barbera pundit Scott Shaw poking fun at funnybooks' kitschiest and most ridiculous.

Papersera (The Duckburg Chronicle) is a guide and breaking-news source for Italian Disney comics.

Platypus Comix Meet Mulberry Sharona, fiendishly manipulative teenage tycoon. "Not everyone in a regal situation is an airheaded whiny stuck-up bimbo," she pontificates. "No, some of us are intelligent. Some of us pose an actual threat to you. Get me?"

back to top

COOKING

Delia Online collects numerous interesting British recipes, including rabbit pie, one of my all-time favorites.

eatgame.com As my friends know, I'll eat anything once, as long as it's environmentally safe and legal.

germandeli.com offers ingredients I can find nowhere else outside of Europe, including super sausages and of course, Katjes Yogurt Gums.

Kueh Chap doesn't really require boiling a pig like a lobster, but this famous fraud convinced some chefs otherwise.

McSweeney's Internet Tendency offers useful and funny reviews of new snack foods.

Scotch Ostrich Egg Some foods you just have to see to believe...

back to top

FAMILY AND FRIENDS' WEB SPACES

The Baratcave features Chris and Nicky's various interests and a splendid section of book and movie reviews.

Alberto Becattini shares his interests and research works.

Howie Fisher knows that old is the nu-nu.

Harry Fluks offers a photo album of himself and his friends and Disney collector colleagues.

Ben Gerstein is more than just my brother—he's a devoted musician, poet, and scholar who richly understands the meaning of devoting one's life to one's art form. Would that we all could find ourselves so fully and completely. Love you, Benj.

Jonathan Gray, comics Renaissance man (Sonic the Hedgehog, Mickey Mouse), presents his solo creations: "Chip and Walter," "Time Trouble" and more at The Dubworks! (Easy, Snuffles. Big Mickey will protect you from the bad juju.)

Rune Meikle thrills us to some pulse-pounding, self-drawn and colored sights and sounds.

Yazann Romahi reveals his travels, his friends, and his explorations in finance.

Tarkan Daniel Rosenberg is one of my oldest friends. His pages in a photography website show off some of his great photographs, none of which feature pigs. Yet.

Magnus Tait shares webspace at his father Charles Tait's photography site.

Stefan and Celine Tillberg will entertain you with their irrepressible interests in film, gaming, and computer science.

back to top

THE MUSIC HALL

The Anachronist presents a behind-the-scenes look at Edwardian musical trends.

The UCSB Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project is ever-growing, with literally thousands of one-time hits now available for download.

back to top